What. A. Page. Turner!? I really enjoyed book 1, but this took the story to a whole new level!! I was hooked, invested and amazed at how this story developed.

“I would have married you in a heartbeat, had you asked me. That’s how desperately I wanted to be yours”.

The angst and fight, the cat and mouse chase, it was so well written. I could really feel the lust, longing and tension from book 1. A continuation of where the trust broke. But their obsession with each other is so strong.

“That voice. It was honey to her soul”.

“Being married to you would be the honour of my life”.

This book is filled with friendships, love, trust and the battles that sometimes need to be fought for it all. To have a better future for all.

“It was a world were enemies could be not just allies, but lovers and friends, and most of all, equals. It was a world where no one needed to hide who they really were”.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Kristen Ciccarelli for the ARC, it’s been a pleasure to read!

Sadly, the formatting for this e-ARC was completely illegible on my kindle! I have no doubt that this is going to be an amazing read, so I've gone and given it 4 stars.

The Crimson Moth was one of my top reads last year and I have been waiting eagerly for the sequel. In spite of the political stakes and deadly cat-and-mouse manoeuvring, I feel like the romance held top billing in this story. The yearning! My god, the yearning... Just spectacular.

Outside of the yearning, the book was extremely fast=paced, which kept the story galloping along. The stakes kept ramping up seemingly on every page, with spies and deadly witches and curses all being called into effect. I felt as though Ciccarelli highlighted Rune's vulnerability even more in this book, which kept her very human and very relatable.

10/10. Ciccarelli has been one of my favourite authors since The Last Namsara. She writes beautifully flawed and tenacious characters and her world-building is second-to-none. Even before Crimson Moth I would have read anything she wrote, but the way she's rounded out this duology just cemented her place on my auto-buy list. Brava.

Oh... Well, admittedly, I requested this ARC before even reading book 1 so that might have been a mistake. Book 1 for me was a 3 stars with one thing that really bothered me (a character who was previously victim of SA was pressured to have sex constantly and I found that rather distasteful) a lot but it was ok. Sure, the MCs didn't have much chemistry and there was hardly any character development but I was hoping that book 2 as so often would be actually a step up. I was wrong. This book wasn't for me. I really disliked the constant repetition of dialogues/thoughts, running in circles. Regardless, I'm sure plenty will love this because there are some very popular tropes used.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first book due to the main characters not having any chemistry and also the fact there were a few plot holes. However, I really wanted to give this series a chance as I know a lot of people loved it.
Unfortunately, this series was not for me. And I know that we can’t love every book we read.
For me, there was no chemistry between the two main characters and I couldn’t connect with either of them. The only thing I could see between them was physical attraction, not emotional.
I loved the idea of the plot but it seemed too simple and I guessed it within the first 50 pages.
Therefore, I can only give this book two stars. I will not be posting a review on my social due to this as I do not want to give this book any bad reviews publicly.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this highly anticipated ARC!

Was the plot somewhat predictable? Yes.
But did I still eat it all up in a single sitting, sacrificing precious sleep hours and was smiling the whole way through? Yes.
And I would do it again.

This was such a great and epic conclusion to this fast paced and magical story. I am absolutely in love with Rune and Gideon. Their dedication to one another is so romantic. Their individual journey and character development was also so well done. The romance tropes?! The tension?! The push and pull?! I cannot. I was literally squealing. Even all the side characters held their own and enriched the story.

Would read again. Cannot wait to jump back into this world.

Overall rating; 5/5

Well i absolutely ate this up, I could not put it down. The tension between Gideon and Rune 🤌, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this duet as i had heard it was more on the YA side but my word it was so good. There was moments where my heart was in my ass, I was worried I was happy, I was angry, I felt all the emotions. I really don't have a bad word to say if I'm honest.

Thank you so much for this free arc in exchange for this honest review. Thank you for granting my wish aswell - I hope your pillow is cold tonight <3

The epic sequel/finale to the Crimson Moth duology had me hooked from the get go. It follows on directly from the first book and it is so action packed I was shocked. No moment of this book was boring. I will forever be in love with this story and how it has gripped me.

The first book set this up perfectly, allowing for so much action and intrigue. I adored the choices made for the characters’ locations, allowing for the tension to build dramatically. There were so many typical romantasy tropes, but they were done so artfully that they felt new, and the story felt fresh. I was absolutely kicking my feet at the interactions between characters. And I adored the way the author left hints to some massive reveals throughout both books! This series definitely works best as a duology, allowing for tension building and connections between characters that may not have been as hard hitting had the series been longer!

I have to admit that I liked the first novel a bit more, but it was great to be back in this world. I always love stories about witches and the chemistry between our main characters is great. The problems felt a bit repetitive but this was to be expected and also felt realistic as these problems can’t be solved easily. This is a fast-paced read and I’m sure everyone who enjoyed the first book will enjoy the sequel. I’m excited to see what Kristen Ciccarelli will write next.

First of all I wanted to express how lucky I was to receive the arc for ‘The Rebel Witch’
I didn’t think it was possible for the sequel to top ‘The Crimson Moth’ but it certainly did. I was immersed from the very first page and honestly didn’t want to put the book down. I am fairly new to the fantasy world, but I felt this was a great start and easy to follow without too much world building. Despite some errors within the book and some spacing issues on my E Reader I barely noticed it, because the story and the writing just sucked me in. I shall definitely be recommending this one to everyone I know. It’s safe to say I shall be reading more from this wonderful author.

The second book in the Crimson Moth duology. I absolutely loved book one and I was so thrilled when my NetGalley ARC hit my inbox. I love Rune and Gideon and this is a real enemies to lovers. Their dynamic did not change in book two and I was all here for it. Probably one of my all time favourite book couples. The tension, the yearning and forbidden love was SO good!

I loved the double POV and short chapters which made that a very easy read. Reading Rune's POV and thoughts and also getting Gideon's POV of recent events works so so well for their story telling. This is "miscommunication" done well, because it just makes so much sense for them and the story.
The book is action packed, with twists and betrayal.
The pacing is fast and I flew through the 400+ pages. I sometimes felt like everything happened a little too fast for my liking though. Some parts felt very rushed and they should have gotten a few more pages, to wrap up everything neatly in my opinion.
I still very much enjoyed this duology and can recommend it to all my fantasy/romantasy friends. Rune and Gideon have my heart.

Thank you to Kristen Ciccarelli, Harper Collins & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My first five star read of the year and I’m still not over this being the most perfect sequel! I can’t tell you how much I adored it. It was such a satisfying conclusion to the series and I know I will think about these characters forever.

This is a series to be read and reread and I already can’t wait to be reunited with Rune, Gideon and this world. The romance is so beautifully written, it’s honest, candid and the most stunning portrayal of two people who will fight all odds to be together. If you love forbidden love, enemies to lovers and slow burn romance, this witch x witch hunter duology is so undeniably perfect for you.

I will now be searching for something to fill this Rune and Gideon shaped void . I truly adored this duology with my whole heart and I cannot wait to recommend this duology to everyone!!

Thank you so much for my early copy Harper Collins!

I really loved this book; and I'm so glad we still had the cat and mouse game between Rune and Gideon!

Their relationship dynamic was delicious, and watching them constantly try to outsmart each other was one of my favourite things. The book took place two months AFTER the ending of The Crimson Moth and although we were told what had happened, I'd have loved to see more of the immediate aftermath.

However, I couldn't put this book down.

The only criticism I have is that it ended too quickly.

After the plot developed (and new things came to light) this could have easily been turned into a trilogy, so we got to delve deeper into new character additions and watching the two sides work together more.

But it was still an enjoyable read.

#therebelwitch by @Kristen Ciccarelli

Firstly - I want to thank @NetGalley - @HarperCollinsUK & Kristen for the opportunity to have this amazing book as an #arc.

I am actually really struggling to write a review that will do this book justice.
At the end of #thecrimsonmoth I just knew we were only getting to the heart of #runeandgideons story.
I wasn’t sure what direction this would go, but what I did know was that it was going to be beautiful and it certainly was.
The #charactergrowth was done extremely well and the story was everything I didn’t know I needed. This #duet was everything.

‘Darling, I know you’re scared. I know this is hard. But I need you. Who else can show them the way if not a witch and a witch hunter, fighting side by side’ 😭😭😭
Urgh Gideon you have my whole heart.
The absolute perfect ending.
#enimiestolovers #whodidthistoyou #guards #witches #magic #witchxwitchhunter #YA #fantasy #fyp #bookrecommendations #booktok #arcreviewer #fyppp

5 / 5 🪰🗝️✨

Huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy!!

I actually adore this duet, I love Gideon and Rune with my entire heart. They are so freaking tension-filled, swoony and just genuinely fun to read. There's something about a witch and witch hunter that I eat up every-time and this duet is my new number one.

It's perfect, the mysterious setting, the intriguing plot, Rune and Gideon's dynamic. Every scene and chapter in this book has me wanting more and the ending was so good and a very satisfying one. The twists and reveals in this book were top tier.

Kristen is definitely a new auto-buy author for me! If you haven't read this duology already please pick up Heartless Hunter/The Crimson Moth (depending where your from) and then pick the Rebel Witch up on release day

This was the perfect conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology! I’m going to miss this world so much.

There were so many elements that made this sequel great – the plot, the characters, the diversity of locations, and the fact that the various conflicts within the story felt entirely natural, never forced. The decision to conclude the series in two books, rather than the typical three, was definitely the right one.

The book picks up right where the previous one left off, with the betrayals still fresh and the stakes high. From the very beginning, I appreciated how Rune and Gideon were almost always together. Their constant proximity gave their unique dynamic space to shine and evolve.

As for the plot, it was incredibly engaging and fast-paced, with either Gideon or Rune (or sometimes both) constantly facing mortal danger. The stakes were even higher in this book than in the first, and I loved how the characters had to make difficult decisions and figure out who the true enemy really was.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was also a highlight. It was full of angst, with plenty of tension between the characters. Rune, however, still didn’t stand out to me. I believe she has potential, but her actions often made her come across as naive and even cowardly. For someone who’s supposed to be strong and badass, there were many moments when she seemed ready to run away from everything, even if it meant abandoning those she cared about. This was especially confusing given that she spent the first book helping the witches escape. Gideon remained largely the same, but I appreciated that he was the one who took the first step in devising a plan to take down the villains and make their home a safe place for everyone.

My favorite part of this book was definitely the romance—it was absolutely swoon-worthy. I have to admit, I was uncertain about Gideon’s character after the events of the first book, but my worries were unfounded. Kristen Ciccarelli excels at writing lovable male leads, and the way Rune and Gideon navigated their feelings and shifting allegiances kept me glued to the pages.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and the duology as a whole!

Hands down, one of my favourite series now! What a perfect sequel to end this series ❤️😭

This was full of thrilling plots and twists, high stakes, enemies to lovers (again lol), true love, witch x witch hunter

I didn’t know I could love Rune and Gideon more but here I am.
Kristen and her words. None of those unrealistic outcomes, annoying characters. She creates the best character growth, unexpected but reasonable storylines and overall amazing stories.

“If this was weakness, he wanted to be weak. If this was sin, let him be damned to hell.”

“Live in the darkness too long, and eventually you won’t recognize the light,” he told her. “You’ll become like the monsters you hate.”

“The problem with love is the more you try to destroy it, the stronger it becomes.”

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc. I cannot wait for others to experience the sequel of this series!

The Crimson Moth was one of my favourite reads of 2024 and I absolutely SCREAMED when I was approved on NetGalley for an e-ARC of Rebel Witch!! Thank you so, so much HarperCollins UK ♡ I did a reread of The Crimson Moth via audiobook in eager anticipation for this, it was SO good being able to dive straight back into this world. This review will contain spoilers for The Crimson Moth, so please proceed with caution!

Rebel Witch takes place around 2 months after the ending of The Crimson Moth, things have already happened in the background so we spend a little time catching up on that before launching right into the action. After the ending events and betrayals of The Crimson Moth, Rune and Gideon have been forced apart on opposing sides in this war - Rune with the tyrannical Witch Queen Cressida and Gideon with the Anti-Witch New Republic. The story picks up almost immediately in Rebel Witch, things are absolutely crazy! The stakes are SO high and emotions are running WILD everywhere.

Rune and Gideon are soon forced into a VERY tentative alliance after realising they need each other to further their own individual plans and schemes, but it's extremely difficult to work together when they can't fully trust each other anymore. I absolutely adore Rune and Gideon, the chemistry and tension was absolutely insane and I ate it UPPP!! They're both so incredibly smart and I loved being able to peek into both of their heads to see what they were thinking. There were so many times I was sitting there giggling and kicking my feet at their antics and schemes, and I loveeeed every minute we got to see of the two together.

Rebel Witch was the perfect conclusion to Rune and Gideon's story, Kristen wrote such an incredible, well-paced duology and I miss them already. I'm a huge fan of the duology format, I think it really ensures that the plot and pacing is done well and everything has to have a purpose, which is exactly how I felt about both The Crimson Moth and Rebel Witch. I absolutely adore this duology, and I am SO excited to reread these later on! ✨

“Sometimes our paths must diverge from those we love. But if love is the highest power, our paths will converge again—if not in this world, then the next.”

This is the second book to the Crimson Moth (Heartless Hunter) and it pretty much starts up now too far where the first book ended. Rune is such a badass in this and I preferred Gideon in this book, when compared to the first!

Now, around 50% I was WORRIED, I thought I had guessed the whole plot and was starting to get bored but then it really picked up. And yes what I guessed was some of the plot, but not even a fraction. The twists towards the end had me shocked and crying. My heart was in pieces. Wow.

Could not give it 5 stars as this duo-logy isn’t as action packed as I would like but it was really good all the same!